Limestone is a great building material. It is tough, durable, relatively inexpensive and quite easy to use. Things like retaining walls and fences can be created with large limestone blocks, while smaller blocks can be used to build things like garden beds and paths. Limestone bricks are becoming quite a popular structural material for houses and new buildings.
However, it’s important to make sure that you get your building supplies and specifically limestone blocks from a reputable supplier. Since they are often used as a structural material, they need to be strong and internally sound. There’s nothing worse than building a nice retaining wall out of brand new limestone, only to have it crumble or break within a few months or a year.
With this in mind, I’ve put together a list of my top 3 reasons why you should always source your limestone blocks from a professional supplier – failing to do so can lead to all sorts of problems. These include:
- Limestone Blocks Sourced From A Reputable Supplier Will Be Structurally Sound
This point mainly applies to reconstituted limestone blocks – blocks which are moulded from a mixture of crushed limestone and cement. If they aren’t built right or if the cement and limestone are mixed in the wrong proportions, reconstituted blocks can be weaker than expected.
This can be a major problem if they’re being used for things like retaining walls, where strength is an essential attribute. Make sure that you always buy your reconstituted blocks from a reliable supplier who can give you strength tests.
- Blocks From A Reputable Supplier Will Be Uniform In Colour & Size
Professional limestone block suppliers will be able to provide you with limestone blocks that are exactly the right size and shape for your needs. All you will need to do is tell them how many of each size you want, and they should be able to deliver them. Most suppliers can even cut blocks to custom sizes if you’re willing to pay more for them.
- Professional Suppliers Are Reliable
If you’re a tradie or builder who uses large amounts of limestone blocks, you need to be confident in your supplier. This means that you should use a large supplier who is able to provide a reliable stream of limestone blocks, even in periods of high demand. Before you settle on a supplier it’s usually a good idea to ask them what their maximum supply ability is and make sure that it’s enough for your needs.
Final Word
If you’re planning on using limestone blocks for your next building or landscaping project, you need to make sure that you source them from a reputable supplier. Failing to do so can cause all sorts of problems. You might find yourself stuck with poor quality blocks, you might have trouble getting a consistent supply and you might have trouble getting exactly the right sized blocks. Use a reputable supplier – it’s worth it.